When a show such as Supernatural endures for as many as thirteen seasons, it’s only natural that those in front of and behind the camera find new ways of playing with their toys, so to speak, in order to keep things fresh. As such, we’ve not only seen characters such as Sam and Dean Winchester, Castiel, Crowley and Lucifer evolve over the years, but portrayed in a variety of ways as well.
Actually, that statement rings most true for actor Misha Collins, for he’s played Castiel so many different ways that I’ve now lost count (hippie Castiel probably remains my favorite, in case you were wondering). But according to a recent discussion that series co-lead Jensen Ackles had with Entertainment Weekly, he’ll soon be able to flex his acting muscles in ways that his colleagues have had the privilege of doing:
“Over the years I’ve only ever had to just play Dean, whereas Jared has had to be Lucifer and Gadreel and all these different actual characters other than Sam. Dean never had to do that. He’s only been Dean. The biggest stretch was Demon Dean but it was still Dean, it was just the demon version of himself, which I always love because it makes my job easier — I can just play the character I know,” Ackles says, before adding, “That is all going to change soon. Something big’s coming.”
Thinking back, that statement’s mostly accurate, with Ackles previously having played a shapeshifter and a Leviathan who posed as Dean. But if we can extrapolate anything from what he just said, it could be inferred that Dean may be used as a vessel in the way Sam had been in those two instances.
If you’ll recall, Dean was originally meant to serve “our” Michael’s vessel before his estranged half-brother, Adam, took his place. Perhaps Apocalypse World’s version of Michael will somehow wear our hero as a meat suit before the season is over. Time will tell, but color us intrigued, regardless.
Supernatural returns with a new episode, “Scoobynatural,” on Thursday, March 29 on The CW.
